MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Paraguayan president Duarte will lead block in next Senate

Paraguayan president Nicanor Duarte said on Monday he's considering resigning before August 15, when his mandate expires, which means vice president Francisco Oviedo would then be in charge of passing the sash to elected president Fernando Lugo.

Resignation is conditioned "to how events evolve, on how the Senate is finally made up and any agreements that could be reached before July first", said Duarte. On that day the 45 senators elected last Sunday take the oath, of which 17 are from the outgoing Colorado Party to which Duarte belongs, but who managed to obtain the largest and most cohesive block in the Upper House. On handing his post as president, according to Paraguayan electoral rules Duarte automatically becomes party chairman, a post he was elected for on January 2006 by 63% of the party's votes. "Much will depend on how I feel and my mood then", said ironically Duarte when asked for further details about his future plans. Former Catholic bishop Fernando Lugo became on Sunday Paraguayan elected president with the support of a rainbow coalition and 40% of the vote, breaking the six decades old grip of the Colorado party in landlocked Paraguay. In related news Mr. Lugo said his sister Mercedes would be acting as First Lady. Mercedes had anticipated that if her brother was elected Paraguay would face a similar situation as neighboring Bolivia where President Evo Morales named his sister for the symbolic post. Mr. Lugo was born in 1951 and was brought up in a very religious family. He decided to continue his studies to become a priest. He resigned last year as bishop to dedicate himself fully to politics. He has promised to end poverty and corruption in Paraguay.